Switch-lock.



A- LINDNER.

SWITCH LOCK.

APPLICATION FILED mun. 1911.

Patented Nov. 13, 1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT orsion ARTHUR LINDNER, OF RICHMOND, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR.,TO THE RAM ENGINEERING 7 COMPANY, OF COLUMBUS, 01-110, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

SWITCH-LOCK Application filed January 24, 1917.

To all who/n it'mag concern:

Be it known that I,'ARTHUR LINDNER, a citizen of the United :States, residing in the city of Richmond, in the county of Wayne and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Switch-Lock, of which the following is a full, clear, and comprehensive specification and exposition, the same being such as will enable others to make and us the same with absolute precision.

The object of my invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a switch-lock, by which the switch to which it is connected may be operated as desired by one having the proper key for the particular lock to which itjhas been adapted, at the same time providing a switch-lock which will be simple in construction, efiicient and convenient in operation, strong and durable in its several parts, light in weight, inconspicuous and attractive in appearance, and which can be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

More specifically stated, my object is to provide a switch-lock so constructed and assembled that it cannot be picked or open atedby experts or others not having an ab solutely perfect key therefor, which key is not only adapted to unlock the look but which is, at the same time, adapted to operate the switch to which the lock is attached, and whereby the switch may be turned to battery, to magneto, or to neutral position by means of said key, and when in other than neutral position the key can not be removed. By this construction I provide means whereby when the key is eitherfully or part-1y removed the switch must be in neutral, or off, position, and at such time the lock will be in locked position, whereby the switch cannot possibly be otherwise operated.

My invention is particularly intended for the dash-switch of automobiles or the like, for controllingthe ignition system thereof, however it may be applied to electric lights or to other electrical equipment asdesired, or for other purposes to which the principles thereof are adapted.

Other objects and particular advantages of this invention will be brought out in the course ofthe following. specification.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Seria1'No. 144,280.

The preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention in a practical manner is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an interior plan view, taken from the rear, of the outer portion of the:

lock, F ig. 2 .is an interior plan view, taken fromthe front, ofthe inner portion of the lock. Fig. 3 is-a face elevation of the lock in position on the switch. Fig. at is an edge elevation of the relatively stationary parts shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a cross vertical section of the lock, showing the same in connection with the switch. Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the lock and a portion of the switch.- Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the inner shell or sliding element. Fig. 8 is Patented Nov. 13, 1917. d

tionas clearly and as comprehensively as I may.

In the drawings numeral l denotes the front plate, and extending back from around the periphery thereof is the flange 2, which is atright-angles to the plate 1. Numeral 3 denotes the back plate, and it fits in-the free edge of the flange 2. The said parts form the case or shell of the lock: Formed in the edge of the plate 3, and spaced a short distance apart; are the two tongues 41: and

5, which are offset inwardly, and they are 1 adapted to fit in the respective slots 6 and 7 which are formed near the edge of the flangev 2,; as shown in Fig. 6. A tongue 8 extends down from the plate 3, and a notch 9 is formed in'the edge of the flange 2 in which said tongue is adapted to rest. The tongue 8 is oppositely disposedfrom" that of thecenter'betweenthe tongues 4 and-5,

that is it. is diametrically opposite thereto, as shownin Fig. 2.- I

Extending from the plate 1, parallel with the flange 2, and contacting with the inner face of the plate 3, are the posts 10 and 11. Opposite to said posts are apertures 12 and 13 formed through the plate 3, in which screws-may be inserted, the same being threaded into the ends of the posts 10 and 11, respectively, whereby the plate 3 is secured in place in the case, in the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby retaining the members of the case in position.

Formed through the center of the plate 3 is the round aperture 14, and equally spaced therefrom, above and below, are the arcuate slots 15 and 16, which are concentric therewith.

In Fig. 8 is shown the rotatable core, comprising the disk 17 a central pintle 18, which extends from the center of one face of the disk, the said pintle is adapted to fit the aperture. 14. Also extending from the edge of said disk, and extending parallel with the pintle 18, are the two lugs 19 and 20, which are adapted to extend through the slots 15 and '16. From the opposite side of the disk 17 extends the two lobes 21 and 22, which are spaced apart by the central slot 23.. The disk 17 is adapted to rest on the plate 3 with the pintle 18 projecting through the aperture 14 and the lugs 19 and 20 projecting through the respective slots 15 and 16, and at the same time the free ends of the lobes 21 and 22 will contact with the plate 1.

The inner shell, shown in Fig. 7 comprises the ring or band 24, which fits snugly and slidably within the flange 2, resting on the plate 1 and located inward from the plate 3. Extending centerward a short distance from the interior of the band 24 is a flange 25 which is in sliding contact with the plate 1. A portion of the band 24 is reinforced or formed thicker than the remainder of the band, as indicated at 26. Formed in the center of the reinforcement 26, and also the band 24, is the indent 27, and diametrically opposite thereto is the slot 28 which cuts the band 24 almost into two-parts, the same being at the center of the flange 25. Formed through the flange 25 are two apertures 29 and 30 which may be brought into register with like apertures 31 and 32 of the plate 1.

Formed through the plate 3 are the apertures 33 and 34, and through the tongue 8 is the aperture 35, to receive the respective screws 36, 37 and 38, by which the lock is secured to the face of the switch 39. In the center of the face of the switch 39 is the usual central fixed stem H, which has a centralaperture T therein, and around the stem H is the rotatable shell J which has in its face the two notches K and L. Also corresponding notches M and N are formed in vertical alinement with each other in the face plate of the switch and which are adapted to register with the notches K and L when the shell is turned to a certain po sition, which heretofore has been accomplished by the usual switch key.

Secured to'the plate 3 and extending to near the flange 25 and approaching near to the band 24, are the guards or guides 40 and 41, which are adapted to guide and position the screws 36 and 37.

Secured on the inner face of the plate 3, around the slots 15 and 16, is the hollow ellipsoidal plate 42, whose longer diameter is in alinement with the center of the tongue 8 and the notch 9. Also secured to the plate 3 and extending from one end of the plate 42 directly toward the notch 9, is the guide block 43, which has at'each corner an inturned tooth, as the teeth (1,5,0 and (i, thereby forming a guide-way between the teeth at each end of the block. Located in alinement with the block 43 and projecting from the opposite end of the plate 42, and secured to the plate 3, is the smaller guide-block 44, which has no inwardly projecting teeth.

Near the tongue 8 an incision is made through the plate 3, and the material thereof is bent inward to form the hanger 45, andthereby forming the aperture 46 in the plate 3. Numeral 47 denotes a dog which is pivoted to the hanger .45 by means of the screw 48. The lip of said dog is normally located onor near to the face of the guideblock 44, as indicated in Fig. 4. Extending-v from the outer end of said dog is the tail 49 which is adapted to engage in the notch 27, or to ride on the edge of the band 24 and the reinforcement 26. The tail of said dogis normally retained in said notch 27 by thespring 50, the latter being secured to the plate 3 as shown in Fig. 2.

Extending inward from around the sides of the plate 42, and connecting with the sides of the inner ends of the guide-blocks. 43 and 44 are the flanges 51 and 52.

Numeral 53 denotes a twoway arcuate spring, the same having its center secured across and near the center of the block 43,. with its ends deflected inwardly, for the purpose hereinafter mentioned.

Numerals 54 and 55 denote alining pins which are secured on the inner face of the plate 42 immediately at the inner ends of the respective blocks 43 and 44, and they extend inward to a level with the edges of the flanges 51 and 52..

Formed circumferentially in the flange 2, centrally and parallel therewith, is the slot P, shown in Fig. 6. The center of said slot is in the center between thetongues 4 and 5, and it extends some distance, therebeyond as indicated. In the center of the slot- P are the two oppositely disposed notches R and S, which are adapted to register with the slot 28, for thepurposehereinafter stated.

and extending out from the ends of the plate 56 are the oppositely disposed guide-blocks 57 and 58, which are in alinement with each other and with the blocks 43 and 4.4 with which they are oppositely disposed.

Extending inward from the two outer corners of the block 57 are the teeth 6 and f; and likewise extending inward from the inner corners of the block 58 are the teeth 9 and h.

Extending inward from around the outer edges of the plate 56, and between the inner ends of the blocks 57 and 58, are the flanges 59 and G0, which are oppositely disposed to and correspond with the. flanges 51 and 52.

Numerals 61 and 62 denote alining pins secured on the inner face of the plate 56 immediately at the inner ends of the respective blocks and 58, and they extend inwardto a level with the edges of the flanges 59 and GO,- and they are located directly opposite to the alining pins 54: and 55.

Numeral 63 denotes the blade or body of the key, the same having in its outer edge the indents or notches u, e and 'w, and in its inner edge are the notches w, y. and e.

For the purpose of a clearer comprehension of the invention we will assume the removable parts to be dismantled, and will proceed to place them inoperative position, and will describe the operation thereof:

The switch 39 is assumed to be wired up in connection with the ignition system, in which it would stand vertical as in Fig. 5, the face thereof appearing as in Fig. 10, the usual switch-key having been removed. This switch has three definite positions: on battery, on magneto and neutral or off position.

Before attaching it to the switch the lock is to be assembled, first by placing the inner-' shell, shown in Fig. 7, in its place as in Fig. 1, with the notch 27 central of the notch 9, which will bring the notch 28 in register with the notches R and S. The core, shown in Fig. 8, is then placed on the inner face of the plate 1, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

1 next take the plate 3, with the parts attached, as in Fig. 2, and after turning it over. to the right or the left, I bring it to the flange 2, first entering the tongues 4 and 5 in the slots 6 and 7, and then bringing the tongue 8 into the notch 9. The above operations will bring the tail 49 in the notch 27, and will project the pintle 18 through the aperture legend will project the lugs 19.and 20 through the slots 15 and 16. I next insert screws through the holes 12 and .13 and tighten themdown into the posts-1'0 and11,,which manifestly secures the various parts of the lock in operative position.

After the above operations the lock will be found tobe in locked position, and it could not even be attached to the switch without first being unlocked.

To unlock, the operation is as follows:

. The key. is inserted as shown in Fig. 5, that is the point is entered through the slot 28, with its edges in the notches R and S, and as it is pushed in it slides between the teeth a and Z), and (2 and f, and then between the teeth cand (Z, then through the slot 23 of the core,.and then between the teeth 9 and it, finally engaging the lip of the dog and turning the dog upon its pivot to the position in which the dog is shown in Fig. 5, thereby moving the tail 49 out of thenotch 27. Simultaneous with the last mentioned operation the notches a: and 1) will be in alinement to receive the edge 24-26 of the case, thereby permitting the handle 61 of the key to be moved to the right or the left, permitting the teeth a and b to pass throughv ing through the notch and the teeth 9 and it passing through the notch w. At this time the tail as will ride on the edge of the band'2l, the inner shell of course turn.- ing with the key. Moving the key to the right or the left will of course turn the core, thereby causing the lugs 19 and 20 to turn the switch in the same manner as would the ordinary switch-key.

It will be observed that sliding the key a short distance in one direction will cause the holes 29 and 30, of the flange 25, to register at one point with the holes 31 and 32 in the plate 1, thereby permitting the screws 36 and 37 tobe inserted through the holes 3129 and 32-30, respectively, passing down through the respective guards 40 and 4.1, and then by means of a screw-driver the said screws may be inserted into the the employment of the key provided therefor.

It is also evident that after thekey has been inserted it may be moved sidewise to its limit at one end of the slot P, which will cause the core to turn the switch on battery, while if it is turned to the limit of the slot P: in the opposite direction it will turn theswitch to"on magneto, in each of which positions the. spring 53' will'press upon the key and prevent it from rattling, and also will hold the key from sliding out of position.

it will also be observed that the key can not be removed so long as it is turned to the right the left from the notches R and S, hat is not until the switch is turned to neutral or elf position, at which latter point the key may be removed.

It should be observed that when the key is brought to the notches R and S that this will bring the tail 49 of the dog in register with the notch 27, and that the first movement of the key outward will allow the spring 50 to press the tail 49 into the notch 27 and thereby locking the device against inadvertent displacement.

It is now evident that after the key is removed that no access can be had to the core, and therefore the switch could not be turned by anyone without the particular key for the lock.

By simply changing certain of the various teeth a, b, 0, cl, 6, f, g, and h, radially, or by changing the size of said teeth, or by omitting certain teeth or by adding others, and then by changing the notches in the key to correspond therewith, it is evident that innumerable combinations may be arranged, whereby only a particular key will operate that particular lock for which it is intended.

I desire that it be understood that vari ous changes may be made in the several details of construction, and in the arrangement and the shape of the various parts, without departing from the spirit of my invention and without sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In combination with an electric switch, a lock connected to the face of the switch in such manner that it can not be removed therefrom except when the lock is in unlocked condition, a key for operating said lock, and means whereby the key can not be removed from the lock when the lock is in unlocked condition.

2. In combination with an electric switch having two contact points and a neutral or off position midway said points, a lock secured to the face of the switch and affording the only means for operating the switch, a removable key for operating the lock and for turning the switch to either point of contact or to neutral position, means where by the lock can not be operated when the key is removed, and means whereby the key can not be inserted or removed except when the switch is in neutral position.

3. In combination with an electric switch, a lock connected to the face of the switch and including a central core adapted when rotated to operate the switch, a dog for securing the lock in its locked condition, a key adapted to be inserted in the lock and to release said dog after which the key may be moved to the right or the left'to rotate said core, guide-ways for said key, teeth carried by the guide-ways, there being notches in the key to register with said teeth whereby when the key is inserted it may be moved sidewise, and also the key being adapted to be inserted and removed only when said dog is in position to lock the device from the sidewise movements of the key, all substantially as set forth.

a. A switch lock comprising a case, a shell slidable within the case, a core rotatable in the center of the case and having lugs extending through the case to engage a switch, a dog adapted to lock saidshell from movements within the case, a key adapted to be inserted at one point in the case whereby it will extend through said core and engage said dog to place the dog out .of securing position, being adapted to be moved sidewise only when the dog is out of securing position, and teeth located in the case for preventing the sidewise movement of the key except when said teeth register with notches therefor in the key and when said dog is out of its securing position.

5. A switch lock adapted to be secured to the face of a switch and having connection with the rotary part thereof, means where by the device is in locked condition only when the switch is in off or neutral position, means whereby the lateral movements of the key after being inserted in the lock will operate the switch to on and off positions, the key being adapted to be removed only when the switch is in neutral position.

6. A lock adapted to be secured to the face of a switch, and comprising a case having apertures in its back to register with the key apertures in the switch, a rotatable core located inthe center of said case and hav ing lugs extending through said apertures in the case and fitting said apertures in the switch, an inner shell fitting and adapted. to slide around in said case, there being a circumferential slot in the edge of the case which i closed by said inner shell, there also being a key slot in the shell adapted to be exposed through said slot in the edge of the'case, guide blocks secured in the case and located in alinement with said slot in the shell and with the center of the slot in the case, teeth projecting inward from said guide-blocks, a dog pivoted at the opposite end of said guide-blocks from said slots, a tail carried by said dog which'tail normally presses into engagement with a notch in said shell, a key adapted to be inserted through said slot in theshell when the slot in the shell is at the center of the slot in a slot in the core,

the case, the key when inserted being adapted to turn said dog and remove the tail thereof from the notch in the shell, the key when inserted being obliged to pass through there being notches in the key to receive said teeth carried by the guide-blocks whereby the key after being fully inserted may be moved to the rightor the left in the case with the center of said 10 core as the axis of its movements, all substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ARTHUR LINDNER.

Witnesses:

RoB'r. W. RANDLE, R. E. RANDLE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

